Means for distributing humidity in printing presses



' Dec. 2, 1941. E; GUSTAFSSQN ETAL 2,264,523

MEANS FOR DISTRIBUTING HUMT'DITY' IN PRNTING PRESSES Filed Aug, 8, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet' l le: In

Dec. z, 1941.

E. GUsTAFssoN ET AL MEANS FOR DISTRIBUTING HUMIDI'Y IN PRINTING PRESSES Filed Aug. s, I 195e 2 sheets-snee; 2

QQ. mim.; I@ www Patented beez; 1941 c Ill., aasignors to. Binks Manufacturing o A Granssas o Eric Gnstaissonand Virgil, G. Green,` Chicago Oom:

-.pany,'Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware sppueetien am s, i938, serai No. zzssos v- 4 claims. (ci. zas-so) The present invention relates tomeans for dis- `tributing humidity-in a printing press so as to.

treat the inking means and the ipaper therein; and to a means adapted to distribute various liqvuids for any desired purpose, including the above mentioned method.

for. the desired result,1and to dothis with a very simple and inexpensive means as welll as o'ne that has very low cost of operation and maintenance.

' Among the objects of the' invention is to prc' videa novel means for projecting fromv a point,

as at the side'of a printing press, an extremely ilne mist-.like spray of material more or less in theV form of nebulous puifs, such as water, a solution -of non-solidifying materials, or the like, inthe vicinity of an object to be treated, such as rollers for transferring ink to the plate. in very small amounts, so that the minute, practicallyinvisible particles of the-material will be distributed substantially evenly overthe ,length of the rollers `and be conveyed with the ink to the impression The moisture or humidity isprojected into an extremely fine mist-like clo'u'din adjacency with the surfaces ofthe ink transferk rcllers'eso that the minute particles of moisture or'humidity will be distributedn substantially evenly =over the lengths of the rollers and will adhere ,to the ink and be transferred with the ink to the printing parts of the printing plate. 'I'he terms water, humidity. moisture. etc., are used generically and include any solution of non-solid forming con- 'stltuent, such as glycerine or the like. Preferably, itis an aqueous solution, and it may include alcohol or the like. c

surface. thus supplying suilicient moisture or like 1material to the paper to give it the various advantageous characteristics that paper gains when it receives a proper amount of moistening or humidifylng.

'I'he idea@ in general, of supplying moisture or Ahumidity to the paper web in printing presses is used. In some cases the moisture has been applied directlyto the paper, asby spraying water against the paper, or` projecting thereagainst of Jets of water, steamin. different degrees of wetness, water vapors with and without air, etc. In other cases/.the application has been more indi- A idly harden. By moisteningl or humidifying the rollers in accordance with the present invention, y .quite old. Various means and methods have been'.

-. .Theinventlon also comprehends the ideaof' moiste'ning or yhumidifying the rollersv for the various .advantages gained as explained below. In operation, the rollers usually ybecome heated. Such heating decreasesA or shortens the life of the rollers because of the deteriorating effect on the composition of the rollers. Also the rollers rapthe rollers aremaintained cool, their life is greatly lengthened, and hardening is reduced to a v Frequent changing oflthe'rollers is avoided, thus permittingthe operation of the rollt vers for much longer periods ofl time. This reduces the time the press must be shut down. Recoating and .remclding of the vrollers alsoare made much rect, as by-directingvor casting water and water sprays against deectors or baiiles so that the moisture is inv turn deilecied' or reflected in moreV divided state before reaching the parier. .In Istm other cases the moisture has `been conveyed by wet surfaces, as of rollers coveredwithporous materiaL or porous endless webs, etc., which contact the surface of the paper web for vadherence of some vof the moisture to the'paper surface. In still furthercases water has been sprayed'orr the water or moisture to the printing plate which inturn transfers some of the water or moisture to the paper web.

less frequently. Hence, the cost-of operation ris greatly diminished.

ciency for the adherence ofthe ink nlm, and also the inkel-.nger muera so that they wm convey somaintains the rollers coolas to prevent danger;

In an these eases'there is e' consideri-tueuse of the material, and the operation is usually con- .,tinuous, whereby there is great waste of the material.- and also unnecessary cost of the operation of the means for supplying the material.

The present invention comprehends the ecolnemie supplying of the. materiel with e discentinuous or intermittent action so timed asto .furnish only the moisture or humidity necessary 65' dust.

The heating eects causeI the composition ofl the rollers to become vdry and hard or, when excessive, to evenmelt. The. mistening or humid' ifying ofthe rollers prevents the drying and the *hardening of the composition, thus preserving, vthe original consistency of the composition and its 'suppleness, as well as smoothness and efii- The transfer of the ink is--also aided, byv beingefi'ected more smoothly and with much less tendency to pickingwhen using very viscous or sti.'

Many other beneiltsare derived or gained from and by the .present invention. 4'lhere is usually, in printing, a certain amount of kpaper lint,"

dirt. and dried formed or produced which accumulates on the form in the crevices between the type or the like, and around the edges of the plate. By humidifying the rollers, ink, etc., especially with a solution having some glycerine, by the means and method in the present invention, such accumulations or collections are avoided; the rolls are maintained soft and pliable, and the tackiness is increased to such extent that the dirt, and other foreign matter, as mentioned above, are constantly picked out ofthe form, thus avoiding the formation of accumulated matter which would have a tendency to come out all at onetime in pieces or the like. Without the use of the means of the present invention it would be necessary to wash the form frequently, many times per day. to eliminate ther accumulation or collection of the foreign matter referred to and to prevent it from getting into and clogi ging or otherwise affecting the mechanism. All

of these disadvantages are avoided by the present invention.

There are also many advantages in meistening or humidifying the paper in thepress. One

of the advantages is that up to a certain point of humidifying the paper web', the paper web is greatly strengthened or vtoughened so that it will not readily tear. Hence, the web may be run through the press at much greater speed than if the' web weredry.

Another advantage is that the presence of moisture or humidity in the paper webresults in obtaining more intensified ink printing.' When using black ink, the imprint is blacker. This is probably due to the moisture occupying the inl' terstitlal spaces which the ink would otherwise occupy. Hence, considerable saving in ink is effected since less ink is absorbed in the paper. The desired imprint is obtained with less ink.

A further'advantage is that, by moistening or avoided or reduced to a minimum. Any that may be generated will be rapidly dissipated and conducted to the metal parts of the press and to stood that the invention is applicable to other uses where it is desired to distribute evenly the liquid material of any kind. As for example. the

invention may be used to prevent offset in print- Iat its lower end a socket Il for rotatablyrehumidifying the paper web, static electricity is ase-4,523

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the means shown in Fig.- 4, and taken in a plane represented by line 5-5 of Fig. 4 of the drawings;

Fig-6 is a similar view taken in a plane represented byline l-l of Fig. 4 of the drawings;v l

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale,l ofthe'spra nozzle shown in Fig. 4; and F Fig. 8 is a sectional view. on an enlarged scale, ofthe diaphragm check valve device shown in Fig. 4. Y

Referring more in detail to the drawings. the embodiment chosen t0 illustrate the invention is shown in connectionwith a printing press having a supporting frame I anda table 2, the latter being provided at its upper surface with tracks 3 and 4 upon which reciprocably slides an ink transfer plate B. Above the plate l and in rolling contact with the upper surface thereof ,are transversely disposed ink transfer rollers l rotatably mounted in bearing brackets 1 secured to side portions of the press frame top 2 (Fig. 1

showing these at one side of the press but like means are provided also at the other'side, even though not shown). Any suitable means (not shown) may be employed to reciprocate the plate l in a known manner.

To the side of the press frame, is'secured a bracket I having a hub l in iwhich is adjustably fastened, as by a thumb Il. a bracket stand Il of bent form with'vertical lower and upper offset 'portions .I2-and I2, the part I2 being both vertically and angularly adjustable in the hub I. On the upper end of the part l2 is mounted a material supply container Il having ceiving the'upper end portion of the part I2 so that the container may be angularly adjustable about the verticaiaxis of the part l2 jso as to locate the contsinernear to or further away from the press as desired or found necessary.

Any suitable means, such as a thumb screw (not shown) may be used tosecure the parts I! and il in adjusted relation. l

`The container Il (see Fig. 5) comprises an upright hollow cylindrical body Il* having at its upper end an annular shoulder Il andan upwardly extending annular rim portion I1.

ing, as disclosed in the Green and Gustafsson l Patents Nos. 2,110,218 and 2,110,219,issued March 8, 1938; or the invention may be used in the treatment of the surfaces of any object, such as the chemical treatment of hides, etc.; or for the tirkeatment of air. gases, vapors, powders. or the Other objects, advantages. capabilities, features. or the like are comprehended by the invention as will later appear, and as are inherently Mw by the invention.,

Referring to the drawings:

Ii'ig. 1 is a view in end elevation, with parts shown in broken section,'of a press with means in' accordance with the present invention for carrying out the process thereof; Fig. 2 is a similar view in side elevation there- Fig. 3 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 2 and showing a form of means operable by `a part of the press for supplying pressure fluid to the spraying device;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view Yof a spraying means 7 forming part of the invention;

' the aange u and outwardly to mi sums: and

^ a valve chamber 2l chamber 2l.

Upon the upper end of the body Il* is a cloi' sure top or head l. having a depending annular flange i provided with a channel in which vthe rim I1 i s seated and sealed. To the innerface of the flange l is mitablynxed a band 2l with its lower .edge portion 2i extending below seal with the inner face of the shouldered portion 4Il of the container.V

The head or top Il has a depending .boss 22 to which is threadedlyv engaged a coupling ele,

ment 22 carrying a pipe 22 leading to a low point in the container; In the'bou 22 is provided check' valve 2l adapted to seat and seal on a seat provided at the upper end of the coupling element 22" and to come to a stop against a non-sealing stop provided at the upper end of the iThe betweenthe seat and stop is auch as to afford a given mount ofplay or movement of the check valve 2l when moving during the operation of the device as later explained.

The chamber 24 opens into a port 2i from which radially extends. a-'material passage 21 s leading to the rim ofthe cover il. the end of inwhlchoperatesaball- :insignial the passage 21 having a cared seat :s against nso asso roi-m an'annunr ausnahme armee 'j which seats a tapered end of a tubular member 29'havinga bore passage 39vin line withv the passage- 21-and constituting an extension thereof.

Concentric-with the member 29 and extendin outwardly from the rim-of the head I9 is formed a tubular boss' 3| between which and the inner end portion of the inember 29 is provided an annular air chamber' 32. The outer end of the boss 3| has'a ared seat 33 against which seats the'tapered rimof an annular.. enlargement 34 formedwith an intermediate `portion of the tubular member 29. It will be noted that the seats 29 and 33 are disposed in a common conical surface. In'the outer face portion of the enlargement 34 is provided an annular airchamber 39 Y which communicates, by'way of passages l39 provided in the enlargement, with the annular air chamber 32. a

The boss 29'isl suitably threaded to receive a coupling retainer 31 having a thrust 'flange over-- hanging the peripheral portion of the enlargev ment V34 `for seating 'it when. the retainer is screwed home. The4 member 29 with the enlarge-4 ment 34 serves as a swivel coupling for the spray gun 38. The latter has a .shank 39 provided with a socket 49' in whichtightly ts the outer end portion lof the tubular member 29 so that, when adjusting the vposition of the gun 39 about the axis of the shank 39, the tubular member 29 with its enlargement 34 will turn with the shank 39, assuming that the retainer 31 has been suill- 99 (see Figs. l, 2 and 3).

passage94 connects with an upright passage por-- cientlyfloosened for that purpose. '0n tightening the latter, after making the desired or required adjustment; theparts 34,29 and 39 are held in place as a unit.

The shank 39 has a bore passage 4I'in line with the passage 39 inthe' member 29 to` act as an extension of the passages 39 and( 21 and to conduct the material to the gun 99. The shank 39 also has an` air e 42, eccentric in the passage 4I', -in communication at an end A the other end'thereof with the gun 39. By" havwhich the needle valve for controlling the m9.-- terial is of the adiustably .As shown, I

the gun 39 oomprisesa body 39* having a cham-v -ber 49 at the end ofthe passage 4I 'and a forwardly opening threaded bore leading from the chamber 49..,wherein is engaged the threaded shank 44 of a material nozzle 49 provided at its forward end with a tapered material discharge tip 49, and a cylindrical bore'41 rearwardly of the tip 49 and leading from the chamber 49 in the body 39'.

p ,The material nozzle 49 is formed with an an- H nular flange 49` to` seat against the forward face 49 o! the body 39* and 9o provide within the ange 49, at the' face 4,9. an annular channel 99 whichcommunicates withl the air passage 4.2

thereof with the annular chamber ,39. and at .94 around the end ofthe material tip 49. 'l'he forward end of the nomic 49 is 'formed with an annular shoulder around the base ofthe 'tipof forwardly converging air passages- 91 leading-1.

lfrom thel annular chamberv 99 -to the annular chamber 99. The ilow of air is from the passage 42 thence by way of port 9|. 'annular chamber 99, passages91, annular chamber 99and through .the annular orifice 941 In the material passage 41 is disposed a needle valve 99 having a conical tip v9,9 for cooperation with the material discharge tip. 49, and a shank portion 99 adjustably-threaded in the rear portion of the body 3,8, the Unthreaded portionrof the shank 99 extending through suitable packing means'9ilprovided in a rear packing hub portion 92of thevbody 39. To the rearor outer end of,

the needle valve shank is secured a knob 93 by:

whichthe needle valve may; be adjusted for the desired or required feedv of theA material through the nozzle tip 49.

At'the other sldethe cover head I9 is provided with an air passage 94 suitably threaded at its outer end for connectionI of an elbowed fitting 99l to which is coupled air d uct or pipe 'nie inner end of the tion 91 leadingV to anannular chamber 99pro vided in the upper portion ofthe head I9. Above.

this .chamber 99 the head I 9 is suitably bored land threaded to receivev a hollow. cap 99 `'providing therein :a chamber 19. Between. thelower end of the cap 99 andfa` shouldered portion of the head I9 is clamped, at its` margin, a circular f valve disc 1I of any suitable material, such as leather, rubber, composition, resinouscompounds, etc., this disc separatingv thetwo chambers 99 and 19 and beingsu'illciently flexible or resilient as to ilex when acted upon by air` and spring pressures.

Centrally of they chamber 98 is provided an upwardly extending tubular portion .12 the upper end of which constitutes a valveseat when contacted by thecentral portion ofthe disc 1I, 'the passage 13 sin. this ,tube portion 12 extending downward and beingin 'communication with the inner end of an air'e 14 which leads to the airchamber 3,2intheboss3l.

19, the Alower rounded portion of which is pressed against theupper side' ofthe portion'of adjusting socketA 19 adjustably threaded to the' upperV end ofthe cap 9,9, a locknut 19 being used.. if desired, to set the socket 19 in adjusted position. The upper end of the socket 19 is proon the button 19 of the disc 1 I.

by way of a portli at. the mrd-of the passage 4 2 and provided. in the, front 'portion of the body 3.a?

The nozzle 49 is suitably .threaded for the connection ofan air nozzle 92 having a tapering frontal portion 93 provided with a circular open videdwith a knob 99 by which` the socket. may

be adjusted'to vary the force of the spring 11 When the valve disc 1IV is in closed position, the pressure air from the passage 94-9'Iacts` only upon the annular area of the disc around 4the valve seat. The spring 11 may be so adjusted that thedlsc will openvthe-port ofthe tube part 12 at a given pressure, as for example, thirtyflve'pounds pressure tothe square inch, which ing at its tip and at the end of. the unterm gip A when acting against the areaof the disc wmmn'fme. chamber 1o is iacutea a button,

vmentioned will open the valve.' As soon 'as the valve opens, the central area portion of the disc. which normally closes the port, then is subjected to the air pressure, so that the valve will be maintained openv by air pressure less than that required to initiate the opening of the valve, as for example, such pressures as may range between thirty-five and twenty-iive pounds to the square inch. When the pressure drops to the lower pressure. such as' for example, twenty-rive pounds tothe square inch or less. the spring 11 then acts immediately to close the valve disc, the central area portion of it being no longer subjected to the air pressure then existing. When the air pressure again rises to the opening pressure, the valve disc is again opened as described above.

When the valve 1| opens, the air under pressure immediately passes to the passage 14 and thence to the spray gun 39. In so passing the pressure will naturally drop, at the valve. but the drop even though below the opening pressure will nevertheless be a sustaining pressure for maintaining the valve open, until the sustaining pressure reaches-the closing pressure when the spring 11 acts to close the valve. During the interval the air is in the range of 'sustaining pressures, the air is lprojected from the gun with air aspirating eect on the liquid material contained in the nozzle chamber 48, passages 4|, 30, 21 and 26, check valve chamber 24, and supply tube 23, The air path is by way of the passages and chambers 14, 32, 36, 42, 5|, 50, 51 and 56 to the orice 54.

The ball check valve 25 acts to prevent the material receding or retreating down-the tube 23 and into the container |48. The ball check valve chamber 241s of such a length that the ball check .valve 25 may have a certain amount of vplay or movement, especially when retreating to its seat, so that there will bea small amount of retreating of the material from the nozzle tip 59 to prevent dripping or the like when the air ceases its aspirating eiect on the material. Then when the next air aspirating eiect is initiated there must first be an aspirating of air before the material starts to move, and by the time the material reaches the nozzle tip the projection of the air precedes it and the material has received some momentum whereby there is immediatelyr an eilicient atomizing of the material without danger of premature projection of unatomized material; i f

The headA I8 also carries a material level gauge comprising a float 8| (see Fig.'6) connected'at the lower end o f a gauge rod 82 extending upward through an apertured portion 93 of the top of the head, the outer end of the rod 82 carrying any suitable indicator 94.

Also the head |9`has a filling opening 85 n ormally closed by a cap 96 to which is connected a` resilient member 81 tting in the opening 85. A retainer comprising a crossbar 98 and a chain 99 is also connected to the cap, so as to prevent the separation and loss of the closure means.

'I'he gun 38 may be turned aboutthe axis of its shank 39 intoany desired angular relation, such as the dotted line positions shown thereof in Fig. 4, so as to direct the spray mist in any desired direction. I

The air duct or hose 99 leads to a valve device 90 (Figs. 1 and 2) supported in a bracket 9| suitably secured to a fixed part of the press, the device 90 being connected to an air supply duct 92 from a suitable source (not shown) and which may have a pressure regulating valve 93 of any suitable form. The valve vdevice has a valve which is intermittently operated to admit increments of air or air charges into the duct 56 at a given pressure and for a given interval of time. To the valve is connected a reciprocable valve stem 94 carrying a roller 95 against which operates a cam 96. The latter is fixed to a shaft 91 supported in bearings 98 and 99 secured to a xed part of the press. To an end of the shaft is fixed a pinion |00 driven by a gear |0| on a drive shaft |02.

In the form of device shown in Fig. 3 the air charges to the duct 65 are supplied by a plunger means attached to the press, such means comprising a plunger |03 carried by a rod |04 adjustably secured to a hub |05 carried by a bracket |06 j secured to a reciprocating part of the press, such as the reciprocating plate 5. The-plunger |03 reciprocates in a cylinder |01 secured to a fixed part of the press.

At the end o'f the cylinder are connected check valves |08 and |09 respectively connected to the supply pipe 92 and the duct B0, the duct 66, in this case, having the regulating valve 93. As the plunger device operates, charges of air are fed to the duct 65 to supply air under pressure in the duct 96 at a rate sufficient to operate the diaphragm check valve and spray gun.

In either event the air is fed in intermittent charges into the duct 66 to the spraying device. Preferably the compression of the spring 11 (Fig. 5) is so adjusted that the diaphragm check valve 1i will be open forvbut a fraction of a second so that there will be a quick, sharp projection of the material from the gun to a locus adjacent the rollers 6 so as to form a cloud of very minute particles of the material. If longer intervals of spraying should be desired, the compression of the spring 11 is reduced accordingly, or even a continuous spray action of the gun may be had by so reducing the compression of the spring 11 that the valve 1| will be maintained open for all pressures of the air in the duct above a given minimum.

The timing of the operation of the diaphragm check valve is determined by the effect of the material 'on the paper in the press, but more proximately the timing is dependent upon the adjusted compression of the spring 11 and the pressure ofthe air reaching ,the diaphragm check valve. Forv given spraying effects at the spray gun, the adjustment of the spring compression will vary with the pressures or the pressure range of the air in the duct 56.

The myriads of tine, minute particles of the material caused to contact and adhere to the ink on the rollers are carried with or on the surface of the ink' to the printing plate. As the latter acts to imprint upon the paper surface, because of these particles being carried by the ink, they will contact the paper and yh umidify the fibres thereof, the ink following the humidifying particles in its contact and adherence to the paper. At the same time, these particles very rapidly absorb heat produced in the rollers and the transfer plate. .Because of the comparative high heat absorption factor. of latent heat o! evaporation,

' only a very small percentage ofthe material parazafatas other structures, arrangements of parts, details, features, process steps, or the like, without departing from the'spirit of the invention. Having thus disclosed the invention, we claim asv our invention:

1. A device for spraying liquid material into a iine spray, comprising a spray gun having a conterial and air passages of the top and the gun connection for directing the gun in any direction about the axis of the coupling, a material supply duct in the container and so connected to the top as to bein communication with the material passage in the top, a force resisted check valve in said air passage of said top and so constructed and arranged as to open under given air pressure for passage of pressure air to the gun, said valve having a. chamber, a diaphragm in said chamber, said air passage in said top having a port so located as to be normally closed by a part oi' said diaphragm, and also having an annular chamber around lsaid port at the` seating .side of said diaphragm whereby air pressure on said side of said diaphragm acts to open the valve by moving the diaphragm away from said port.

2. A. device for spraying liquid material into a iine spray, comprising aspray gun having a connection provided with material and air passages, a container for th liquid and having a s 5 seating or closing side of said diaphragm, and adjustable means for pressing on the opposite side of said diaphragm to vary itsclosing action. 3. vA device for spraying liquid material in to a ne spray, comprising a spray gun having a connection provided with material and -airpassages, a container for the liquid and having a top provided with material and air passages in line with the material and air passages oi the gun connection, a swivel coupling for connecting the gun connection to the top and having material and air passages in communication with the material and air passages of the top and the gun connection for directing the gun in any direction about the axis of the coupling, a materialv supply duct in the container and so connected to the top as to be in communication with the material passage in the top, a force resisted check valve in said air passage of said topland so constructed and arranged as to open under given air pressure for passage of pressure air to the gun, said swivel coupling comprising a tubular portion fitting into a s'ocket provided in said gun connection, the coupling being provided with an annular air chamber around the tubular por- Y tion thereof andv so located as to be always in top provided with material and vair passages in line with the material and air passages of the gun connection, a swivel coupling for connecting.

the gun connection to the top and having material and airpassages in communication with the material and air vpassages of the top and the gun connection for directing the gun in any direction about the axis of the coupling, a material supply duct in the container and so connected to the topfas to be in communication with the material passage in the top, a force resisted check valve in said air passage of said top and so constructed and arranged as to open under given y air pressure for passage of vpressure air to the4 gun, vsaid air passage in said top comprising entry and delivery portions with the check valve between them, said delivery portion having a ported part extending in the check valve, a diaphragm in said valve and normally closing the port of said ported part at the central portion 'of said diaphragm, said entry portion having an annular communication with the air passage of the gun connection regardless of the angular relation of the gun connection to the coupling, and said coupling'being provided with an air passage communicating with said annular air chamber and said air passagein said top.`

- 4. A device for spraying material in a printing press comprising a container for the material, a top connected to the containeand provided with transversely extending `air and material passages therein, said air passage having'receiving and delivery portions, a check valve in said top and in said air passage between said portions, and a spray gun having a swivel connection with said top at' an end of said passages and having air and material passages in communication with the air and material passages in the top, said valve having a chamber provided with inlet and outlet ports respectively in communication with said rev ceiving and delivery portions, a iorce resisted valve closing element movable in said chamber 4to -normally close both of said ports under the A force acting on the element, and to open both .of

said ports under pressure of air acting against; said element, said element having a part of its area which is opposite to said inlet port subjectedl to air pressure when in closed position, and all chamber around said ported part and at the' of its area subjected to air pressure when in open position. y

ERIC GUSTAFSSON.

VIRGIL G." GREEN. 

